House of the Week: Mansion in Colonie

Generally speaking, I gag when I see a mansion referred to as a “bargain” or a “steal” when it’s still priced way out of reach for ordinary people. But I have to admit, the opulent home at 16 Renas Drive, Colonie, is underpriced for what it is. It strikes me as a dream-fulfillment home, where the owners gave the builder a list of must haves: nearly 5,000 square feet; a high end kitchen with multiple ovens and enough space to entertain dozens of guests; grand mahogany double doors; a two-story foyer; a “nook” bracketed by windows on three walls; four full bathrooms to go with each bedroom; a walk-in shower in the master bathroom; a vast walk-out basement for displaying one’s big game trophies…and so on, and so forth.

Realtor Anthony Gucciardo made a good case for saying the replacement cost of this house is in the neighborhood of $1.3 million: $200 per square foot, plus the cost of the half acre (.65, to be precise).

And yet, Gucciardo is the third agent to hold the listing, and the price has been reduced from $950,000. There are clues to why this house hasn’t sold. First, the taxes: $15,250. It is the North Colonie school district (Cohoes mailing address). Second, the location. Grand as the house is, it is out of place in its surroundings. The house next to it to the left is one story and 960 square feet. Other houses on the dead end street, although bigger, do not match the grandeur of 16 Renas. I would love to know what the neighbors thought when it was under construction.

So, any guesses on the list price? $800,000? $500,000? Find out, after the jump.

It’s listed at $649,800, and Gucciardo told me the owners are downsizing and motivated to sell.

The realtor forgot to add “Mc” in front of the word “Mansion.” God, I hate the “flat screen t.v. over the fireplace” look. It’s so ugly, and so is this house, I’m afraid. ((Coffered ceilings in the kitchen is rather over the top.)

Style–yuk. Size–athletic; you better be in good enough shape to manage the thousands of extra steps its gonna take to walk around 5,000 square feet of house, especially in relation to the kitchen. But then, if you’re living in this house you’re probably not cooking… The only upside is the school district, but even that’s no guarantee. We live in a desirable district and our home value has diminshed considerably, much to our dismay 🙁

It’s interesting, while most of the houses on the street are modestly sized, there is another house about the same size next-door and then at the end of the street there appears to be a much larger home with a long private driveway. It makes me wonder what kind of community they were planning.
Also, a lot of people’s comments are very ugly and unnecessary. Just because someone might have more money than you doesn’t mean you have to attack them with insulting comments. We’re all familiar with the term McMansion and if it was ever clever or funny, it’s not anymore.

I understand that this house might not be to everyone’s taste. If you’re looking for a gracious kitchen with top of the line appliances a full bath for all of your children, and you want to stand out from those traditional cookie cutter homes, this would be a house you would want to check out. They say Real Estate is about location! I understand the neighboring homes don’t support the subject property’s value. The price is reflective of the quiet street, yet still in North Colonie and 5 minutes to most anywhere important. I know plenty of people who live in beautiful neighborhoods throughout the Capital Region and cant stand their neighbors or the drive to get to there neighborhood. I have had buyers tell me they dont like Shaker Bay because they dont like the houses on Forts Ferry Rd. Whether this house is your style or not, put it on a lot in East Ridge, Shaker Bay, or Cobble Hill and the price tag would easily exceed 1 million. I think if most people were given the opportunity to live in this house, they would take it in 2 seconds. Society has pushed “IMAGE” in our face for many years and I believe that because this house doesnt have that “We Live on the perfect street image” many people will shy away from what is a great buy. If you’re not worried about keeping up with the Jones and want an outstanding house without the million dollar price tag, this is the best deal on the market in the Capital Region. The sellers built their palatial estate to their liking and raised 3 outstanding children. Tastes and colors can always be changed! If anyone wishes to see this house, I would be more than happy to arrange a showing. Please feel free to visit anthonygucciardo.com. Thank you for the positive comments!

Ok, lets agree, if this was in Shaker Bay or East Ridge, or Stage Estates, it would be SOLD, Done Deal!!!!!! It also, would be 600,000 + more! But is would have sold!
I think this is a LOT of House, and the agent Anthony Gucciardo, once again, priced it to sell! I do have an issue with 15,000 in taxes and a Choes address! Lets face it, when asked for your address, who wants to say Choes?? But if you can get over the adress you have to agree it is spectacluar!!!!! Who would not want to entertain in this kitchen? or, just wake up in a home that doesnt have “everyhouse on the block looking the SAME”! Look, if we did not have to be labeled with an “address of status” most of us would jump at owning a home like this, for a reasonable price..
PS did any one take notice of the beautiful house that was just built right up the road?? Had to be at least 800,000 + So I am sure in time, a lucky family will see this can be their dream home! Sometimes, you just have to look outside the box!

Waaay too much beige and brown. Waay too much ornamenture (is that a word?) Take down all those window treatments, remove the furniture, repaint all the walls (I’m thinking pale grays, light sage, etc.) Replace all the light fixtures for simple elegant ones.

I agree that the location is rather odd, considering the size and expense of building this home.

I was very intrigued by all of the negative comments, especially the ones that said “gag.” I just looked at the photos and thought the home was absolutely beautiful! The kitchen is amazing, the hardwoods look gorgeous and the floor plan looks nice and open. Someone said there was an above ground pool. I didn’t see that. I saw a beautiful built up patio with a hot tub and an awesome walk out basement. Anyway, I think the house looks incredible. Tough crowd. I hope Mr. Gucciardo can sell it for his clients. I see his signs everywhere, so he must be pretty good. Good luck.

Agree with others; the kitchen is way too big…who wants to walk so far from the counter space on the island over the stove, back and forth? Obviously this kitchen was built for looks, not for actual use. Oh, and I guess its plenty spacious when the caterer brings in their crew.

Wow. The architect and owner had no sense of style, history, space, proportion, beauty. There must be dozens of these white elephants that went up over the past 20 years — big staircases, kitchens too large to work in, cheap construction, no proportion or elegance.
You’d have to pay me to live in an off-the-shelf builder’s Barbie house like this one.

if the house was in another neighborhood on a bigger plot it’s a deal. I drove past it the other day and this home looks so out of place in the neighborhood. Would be a million dollar home in another location but it’s in a location of homes that look to be like in the 180000 range

First of all why all the Christmas decorations? When you are listing a home, these are the types of things that need to be eliminated. Not everybody is celebrating Christmas(even though I am.) You need to take all personal belongings like this out because your idea of great Christmas decor may also conflict with the potential buyer. You need to make the home appeal to the masses not just look to find that needle in hay sack. You are trying to present the house so the buyer can see themselves living in it and many buyers have trouble looking past a home owners personal touches at times. It is tough on a house like this to get a sufficient number of pictures on the MLS since there is a limit to the number of pictures that can put on the MLS.

It’s a bit much. Too ornate in general, though the wood flooring is lovely. Overdecorated, over the top. Seems like it would be suitable for someone with a need for lording it over the neighbors, I guess. However, I love the kitchen space!

Above ground pool! Perfect, haha! What’s up with that deck and hottub, looks like it’s attached to the siding.

All these cheesy a** houses built in mid 2000s are all falling apart now – all built with sub par materials by sub par contractors. These things are an eyesore anywhere. I live in CP and back in the mid 2000s, I’d travel out of town for a couple weeks, return and I would see these things already built. In a few weeks! That is not quality. This one built in 2007.

I had a few friends that had these things in CP. After about 4 years, drywall was popping, molding was warping, moldy smells, faucets leaking, floors uneven, driveways cracking, windows drafting. Buyer beware!

It’s a little comical and not exactly flattering to have the cheerleading squad for the listing agent come out. What is more why do people think those who critique the legitimate flaws of a house are somehow jealous or lacking in money? I could afford the house. It is however beyond question ill suited to it’s location and is literally noting more than a glorified cookie cutter. Simply because it’s neighborhood does not all look the same does not mean it is not of the same ilk, just a higher status. It is a house that will appeal to many types of people. That does not mean those who dislike it are wrong or being mean. Did it never occur to anyone that the people who follow this blog tend to like and have some knowledge about homes? Because if they did, there would be no mystery as to why some people are not impressed. I do have to say I literally laughed out loud to the listing agent calling it a palatial estate. It is a big house with some luxury features and many subpar at best mediocre touches. Acres of vinyl and faux poorly executed fireplaces do not a palace make. Nor does half an acre in any neighborhood USA make an estate. Truly laughable, but cute.

For the past several years a couple who relaocated from New Jersey have been living here quietly. Tony and Carmella and their chicldren AJ and Meadow have found the home to be comfortable but maintaining a low profile so close to New Jersey has been a challenge. The listing includes a 26 lieve limited edition collection of Lladro!

The family will be relocating to a 15,000 square foot neo victorian georgian adobe in Arizona with an 8 car garage, which will only fit two Escalades.

Yowsa! Totally out of place. Was this built on spec? It seems to be a builder’s model home on an inexpensive piece of land. The family room and living room are totally impractical for everyday living. Furniture placement is horrendous. First thing i would do is lose the swags and change the furniture in the living room.(for selling purposes). There are so many beautiful homes in this price range with livable layouts.And is that the garage or the next neighbor’s house? No privacy for either.